Honoring the Memory of Marissa Miller

It's all anyone can talk, or tweet about. The Twitterverse is overrun with the hashtag "ESPNforMarissa."

"I looked at this map and it had a bunch of hashtags with that on it and it was like in Canada and Mexico and I was like whoa because we're a really small town compared to a lot of other cities," says one of Marissa's closest friends, Jordan Huffman.

The campaign is trying to gain the attention of ESPN to get Marissa's story, and highlights of her basketball career, on air.

In the 24 hours since it's inception, tweets for Marissa number in the hundreds of thousands.

Those who knew her both as a competitor and person say she is more than deserving of time on the sports network.

"She was the most fierce competitor I have ever seen and she led the other girls and played with just a grace and quiet strength that I have never seen before," says Marissa's soccer coach Brad Gault.

But more than an outstanding athlete she was a quiet leader, using her actions to impact the lives of others.

Her motto, "Be kind. Work hard. Have fun." is something she lived by.

"She was always kind to everyone she knew. She worked hard at everything she did and she was just amazing. Everyone loved her. She was so goofy," says Huffman.

Famous athletes are picking up her story and joining in the effort to remember her.

Her favorite player, Kemba Walker, along with Kobe Bryant and Pat White tweeted about her story.

"I think Marissa now would look down at what is being done and she obviously would smile. But what Marissa would want more than anything through any type of recognition is for other kids to be motivated by what she's done and how she has gone about her life, not only as a friend but as a competitor on the field," says Gault.

In the age of social media her story, and this mission, provides some solace for a promising life not soon forgotten.

In a written statement the Miller family says, "We want to thank the community of Parkersburg for the incredible heartwarming response and support. The amazing people of this community have given us the strength to continue. We hope that Marissa will always be an inspiration to others. Be kind - to everyone. Work hard - in everything. Have fun - every day."

A memorial fund has been set up in Marissa's name. You can send donations to:

The sudden death of 12 year-old athlete Marissa Miller has spurred a huge movement to honor her memory.

The hashtag "ESPN for Marissa" has gone viral.

It started on Twitter Monday and within 24 hours has been tweeted hundreds of thousands of times.

Marissa Miller died last thursday after collapsing during soccer practice.

Her family says she died of an undiagnosed heart condition.

Those who knew Marissa are campaigning for her story to appear on ESPN.

some clips of her basketball talents are popping up on the web.

Friends say she was an incredibly hard worker, practicing basketball drills all the time.

And famous athletes are getting in on the cause.

Marissa's favorite player was Kemba Walker.

He, along with Kobe Bryant and Pat White tweeted her story Tuesday.

Her coach, Brad Gault, says Marissa was never one for the spotlight, but would be happy to know she is inspiring others.

"I think Marissa now would look down and she would obviously smile. But what Marissa would want more than anything through any type of recognition is for other kids to be motivated by what she's done and how she has gone about her life not only as a friend but also as a competitor on the field," says Gault.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.